The thrilling history of the extraction and economic control of the world's major minerals – from Antiquity to the present day: gold, copper, iron, lithium, rare earths, and more. Why should you read this book? Mining is on the verge of regaining a central role on the global stage. As the world gradually shifts toward deglobalization and an indirect confrontation between the United States and China – while countries like Russia and India seek to assert their influence in this emerging multipolar landscape – mineral extraction is becoming ever more strategic. Meanwhile, humanity, faced with the grave threat of climate change, is undergoing an energy transition that demands (and will continue to demand) more metals than ever before. To understand the relevance of mining today, we must revisit its past. History reveals the crucial role that metals and mines have played in shaping nations' destinies – closely monitored, even in recent times like the Cold War, by governments and powerful corporations alike. From the jungles of the Congo to the glaciers of the Canadian Arctic, from the California Gold Rush to high-altitude excavations in Argentina, and the tale of Spanish tungsten during the Third Reich, Underground is a gripping guided tour through an ancient yet largely misunderstood industry – often reduced to caricatures and oversimplifications in public discourse. "Brilliant. Essential to understanding the relevance of mining today." Alberto Lavandeira, CEO of Atalaya Mining